Toothbrush



Feb. 10, 1931. F. E. BYERS ET AL 1,792,358

'roo'rmsausn Filed July 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v o a op FECBL era 1 72*.

INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Feb. 10, 1931. F. E. BYERS ET AL 792,358

TOOTHBRUSH Filed July 14, 1927 2 Shani-Sheet 2 I. E. fiyers E 4.11 he ATTO RN EY Patented Feh; 1o; tear UNITE STATES Parana OFFICE FRED 'V'EBBO ELECTRIC TOOTH BRUSH COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A COR- POBATION O1 MISSOURI 'roo'rnsnusn Application filed July 14, 1927. Serial No. 205,565.

This invention relates to improvements in power operated brushesand has especialreference to tooth brushes, an object being to provide a power operated brush which will 6 have a movement at direct right angles to the length of the brush bristles, and will thus provide meansto operate the brush so that the bristles will be moved longitudinally'of the teeth with the same degree of contactthroughout.

We are aware that it is old toprovide power operated tooth brushes in which the brush-- is moved longitudinally, it is also old to provide means for movin the brush in the di- 1 rection of the length 0 the bristles, or to proand if-forced inward between the teeth, will 3 cut and injure the gums. In addition, the bristles will not be in contact with theteeth' Y throughoutthe length of the latter.

The present invention provides a brush whose movement imparts an even contact of the bristles throughoutthe length of the teeth, so that the bristles may be forced in ward between the teeth and will travel from the outer to the inner ends of said teeth without injuringthe gums. With the above .and other objects in view, the invention. further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to

trated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out inthe appended claim. r the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view of a power operated brush constructed in accordance with the'invention.

.17 having space be hereinafter more fully described, illus-'- Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectlonal view.

E. Bxnas mi) wmuure. wnm'r, or KANSAS. crrr, mssonnr, sssrenons r0 Figure 3 is a view at right angles to Figure I 2 with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 4 is an end view of the casing with the brush removed.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2. I

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-601? Figure 2..

Figure Figure 3. Figure movement of the brush.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corre- 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of 8 is a diagram illustrating the sponding parts, the invention as shown com prises a casing '10. This casing is shown as c lindrical, a though it is obvious that its ape may be changed as desired. Mounted within the casing is a slide 11 and this slide operates in guides 12, so that it may have a lateral reciprocatory movement. Extending from the slide is a socketed member 13 and b. 1 this member extends throughand is movable longitudinally of a slot 14 provided in the end of the casing 10. The handle 15 of a brush 16 is removably mounted within the socketed member with the bristles of the brush extending at right angles to the direction of sliding movement of the socketedmember"13 V j Variousmeans may be employed for imparting thi's'movement to the slide 11, the

means shown comprising a rotatable cylinder grooves 18 therein, grooves being arranged at a transverse incline with respect to the axis of the cylinder. The slide 11 carries pins 11a which extend into the grooves 18, sothat when the cylinder is rotated, an oscillatory sliding movement will be imparted to the slide 11. The cylin :der carries a pinion 19 which is engaged and 5 driven by a inion 20, the latter being-mounted upon a s aft 21 whose tru'nnio'ns are disposed in suitable bearings provided in the casing. Also fast upon the shaft 21 is a worm gear 22 which is engaged and driven by a worm 23, the l tter being mounted upon the v the inner end of a shaft 24. This shaft extends through a handle425 which is secured.

to the casing 10 and is provided with a socket 26 to removably receive the end 27 of a flexible shaft 28. The 'end 27 of the shaft 28 is removably locked in position by any suitable means.

The shaft 28 is driven by a motor which is arranged within a housing 29- and the latter 1 is provided with a handle or bail 30 for convenience. A conductor cord 31 extends from the housing 29 and is provided with a suitable plug 32 for connection with a source of current.

When power is applied to the shaft 24, the

latter will operate to rotate the cylinder 17 through the gearin just described. This rotation of the cylinder 17 will impart a reciprocatory sliding movement to the slide 11 whose guides 12 are parallel, so that a lateral reciprocatory sliding movement at direct right angles to the length of the bristles of the brush 16 will be imparted to the brush. The bristles may thus be held against the teeth and the movement of the brush head will be directly vertical so that the bristles will travel over and between the teeth with substantially the same degree of contact throughout the length of the teeth. The bristles may thus be forced inward into the s aces between the teeth so as to thoroughly 0 can out and remove all accumulated foreign substances without injury to-the gums.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form,proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Havin claimed 1s:

In combination, a tooth brush having its bristles projecting laterally and arranged longitudinally with reference to its handle, a brush operating device including a brush actuating element and sower operated mechanism connected to sai ing a rectilinear reciprocatory movement to said element, and handle engaging means providing a fixed operative connection between said element and handle to maintain the brush head in constant right angular relation to the direction of reciprocatory movement.

In testimony whereof we afiixour signatures'.

' FRED E.. BYERSH WILLIAM G. WHEAT.

described the invention what is element for impart- 

